Law and Order Impeded by Rogue Police

"It is alleged that these officers have demonstrated varying degrees of criminality and associations to criminal networks."

"We are alleging that some police officers were collecting personal and private information unlawfully and distributing it to members of organized crime, which ultimately resulted in serious harm in our communities."

"[Criminals sought and obtained] confidential information from various Toronto police officers. In some cases, police officers were offered bribes for this information." 

Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan, York Regional Police

 

"In all, three officers and one retired officer have been charged with offences related to unlawful queries and the distribution of confidential, personal information."

"Four officers face bribery charges in connection to this operation." 

"[A plan was uncovered to] support the operation of illegal cannabis dispensaries by accepting bribes to obstruct any possible enforcement action to be taken at those locations."

York Regional Police

 

"[This is] a painful and unsettling moment."

"I was not provided an opportunity to make investigative decisions [impacting] the speed and flow of the investigation."

Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw  

From left to right: Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween and York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan. The three men spoke at a press conference on Feb. 5, 2026, to announce the arrest of seven Toronto police officers and one retired Toronto officer. York Regional Police

 

An investigation of Toronto police officers of some months' duration was finally wrapped up when an investigation into a conspiracy to commit murder, led to the arrest of seven of Toronto's police officers and a retired officer. Ranging in age from 24 to 57 years, the officers were suspended from duty; in the case of four of those charged, suspension without pay is being sought in reflection of the serious nature of the charges.

 

One officer's charges include drug trafficking (MDMA, cocaine, Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax) along with trafficking property obtained by crime, leading to a total of 17 charges. A total of eight charges were levied against another officer who faces charges including breach of trust and possession of a prohibited weapon. The investigation led as well to the arrest of another 19 suspects.

 

A conspiracy to murder a member of corrections management working at an Ontario facility was uncovered in June of 2025, which led to the investigation being initiated. Over a 36-hour period, suspects appeared at the targeted man's home on three occasions. Evidence is lacking, according to police, that the corrections member had been involved in criminal activity of any kind. Speculation is that his "commitment to integrity in his position" may have led to his being targeted.  

 

Security camera footage shows a gunman entering a Toronto pub during a mass shooting in March 2025 that was linked to tow truck industry violence. Toronto police arrested 10 people in connection with the incident. (CBC News: The National)

 

Surveillance footage revealed three masked men returning to the residence armed with a loaded handgun, likely intending to commit murder. A vehicle was rammed by the suspects into a police cruiser where officers tasked to protect the victim were at the scene in response to discovering the man had become a target. It was there and then that the three suspects were arrested.

 

Police allege that a Toronto police officer had accessed confidential information unlawfully relating to the victim, giving it to a key figure within a criminal network who forwarded the information on within the network. At a later time, three other suspects who were part of the murder plot were also arrested. A number of serious criminal acts were identified by police which included seven shootings in York Region. A suspect could be seen shooting in residential neighbourhoods in one surveillance video.

 

 Police uncovered a plan led by a key figure in the criminal network to "support the operation of illegal cannabis dispensaries by accepting bribes to obstruct any possible enforcement action to be taken at those locations". One of the criminals the investigation revealed was affiliated with the tow  truck industry, long plagued with violence and extortion in the Greater Toronto Area linked to a turf war. Over $4.2 million in assets and over a dozen arrests took place in last year's industry crackdown. 

 

Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw came to the defence of involvement by the Toronto police in the investigation, brushing aside allegations that it represented a conflict of interest since the investigation was led by York Regional Police. The charged officers represented four different divisions within the Toronto Police Service. The retired officer had been a member of the Emergency Management Unit. Arrested with him was his son, both suspects in the investigation of criminal activity. 

 

John Madeley Sr. (left) and John Madeley Jr. (right), the father and son accused in Project South, a seven-month-long investigation into organized crime and corruption.  CTV News